FIVE-star Stalybridge Celtic made Hyde boss Steve Waywell eat his words as they cruised past their Ewen Fields neighbours and into the FA Trophy's first round.

Waywell had said he was confident Hyde would prove they were better than their bitter Bower Fold rivals, but he had little to boast about after seeing his toothless Tigers mauled 5-1.

Neil Prince was the architect of Bridge's crushing victory with a stunning eight-minute first-half hat-trick, which Lee Ellington then added to with two further goals after the break.

The only sour note for the Celts, who paraded their latest signing, ex-Southport stopper Farrell Kilbane, was the sight of their keeper, Paul Pettinger, being stretchered off in the final minute after trying to stop Chris Lynch netting a consolation goal.

Droylsden joined Bridge in sailing over their opening Trophy hurdle with new boy Carl Ruffer and ex-Torquay midfielder Mick O'Brien, given his first start of the season, inspiring them to a 4-0 Butcher's Arms rout of Grantham.

Craig Robinson, Terry Fearns, skipper Steve Brodie and Robbie Talbot shared in the goal feast, the latter scoring within seconds of being introduced as a 70th minute substitute.

Replay

The Bloods and Stalybridge are joined in today's first round draw by little Warrington, who dumped their UniBond first division rivals Kidsgrove out 4-0 with the help of two Graham Mitchell goals.

Northwich, too, go into the hat but face a home replay against Hucknall tomorrow following a goalless draw at Watnall Road.

It was a tale of Trophy misery for the region's three other third qualifying round representatives, Leigh RMI, Mossley and Woodley, who all failed in their bid to join Nationwide Conference elite sides such as Altrincham in the competition proper.

Ailing Leigh were thrashed 4-1 by visiting Stafford, while Mossley and Woodley were each on the wrong end of 2-1 scorelines at Clitheroe and Vauxhall Motors.

Meanwhile, Altrincham left it late before snatching a vital home Conference victory over fellow strugglers Tamworth.

Colin Little and sub James Robinson each struck in a sensational last two minutes to give the Robins a 2-0 win which avenges their recent FA Cup defeat at the Lamb Ground and lifts them five points clear of trouble.

FC United also needed a last-gasp goal to salvage a 3-3 draw with plucky Cheadle in front of 3,373 fans at Edgeley Park.

Karl Marginson's men were heading for only their second league defeat when Dave Chadwick headed in a 90th-minute equaliser. Cheadle led twice through Andy Lindon and Vinnie Braine, with Steve Torpey and Simon Carden on target for United Dean Martin also scored for Cheadle.